Fidget Blankets: A Sensory Stimulation Outreach Program

Kroustos, Kelly R.; Trautwein, Heidi; Kerns, Rachel; Sobota, Kristen F.

doi:10.4140/tcp.n.2016.320

Cited by 5 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia include agitation, aggression, and depression due to the inability to communicate unmet needs. [5][6][7] Horticulture therapy is associated with a reduction in feelings of helplessness and agitation, while promoting sleep, decision making, socialization, and concentration. 10,23 Public health advocates in collaboration with aging sectors have an integral role in introducing the concept of horticulture therapy to caregivers and long-term care providers as an option for BPSD management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4,11 Management strategies for BPSD often include unlabeled use of antipsychotics; however, research indicates that antipsychotics fail to show benefits when compared with placebo, leading to more adverse events. 7,12,13 Both the American Geriatrics Society and the Dementia Action Alliance indicate that nonmedication therapies are first-line interventions for individuals with BPSD. The Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning for the use of antipsychotics in people with dementia due to heightened risk of mortality and adverse events.…”

Section: Approach To Carementioning

confidence: 99%

“…5 These are collectively referred to as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and include agitation, aggression, depression, delusions ,and hallucinations due to frustration, pain, and the inability to communicate unmet needs. [5][6][7] Changes in functional capacity should be assessed using validated methods during medical visits as guidelines support the use of rehabilitation and therapy ser-…”

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confidence: 99%

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Remembering Your Roots: The Role of Horticulture Therapy in People Living with Dementia

Kroustos

Horning

Gurevich

et al. 2020

OJPH

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Introduction: Dementia is a debilitating disease affecting over 50 million people. Major challenges facing patients with dementia lie in the impact of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The American Geriatrics Society and Dementia Action Alliance recommend against the use of antipsychotics as first-line treatment. Antipsychotics often fail to treat BPSD whereas nonmedication practices such as horticulture therapy may lessen BPSD. Guideline evidence has provided a unique opportunity for public health officials to assist in filling this vital role in the approach to BPSD management.Methods: Several studies and meta-analyses were reviewed to determine the effectiveness of horticulture therapy in managing BPSD, and evidence supports horticulture therapy as an effective method of addressing BPSD.Results: The benefits of horticulture therapy extend beyond addressing only BPSD; through multisensory stimulation, patients have increased physical activity, reduced stress, and improved sleep. Horticulture therapy has been shown to decrease the sense of loss and reestablish the patient in a familiar nurturing role, providing the patient with a sense of purpose.Conclusion: Stakeholders within the public health sector are strategically positioned to implement evidence-based interventions that address the unmet needs for the care of dementia within the community.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Approach To Carementioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Remembering Your Roots: The Role of Horticulture Therapy in People Living with Dementia

Kroustos

Horning

Gurevich

et al. 2020

OJPH

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“…A multisensory dementia tool holds the potential to occupy less physical space, provide a high degree of personalization, require less supervision and be more cost-effective than the implementation of MSEs. Multisensory dementia tools include twiddle muffs [38], memory blankets [39], robotic pets (e.g. PARO and JustoCat) [40][41][42][43][44], socially assistive robots (e.g.…”

Section: Multisensory Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of multisensory stimulation interventions in the treatment of major neurocognitive disorders

Cheng

Baker

Dursun

2019

Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology

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OBJECTIVE: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are a heterogeneous constellation of non-cognitive symptoms and behaviours that can cause significant patient distress and present complex management challenges. Behavioural and pharmacological treatments are used to decrease the symptoms, preserve function and increase quality of life. In the treatment of individuals with a major neurocognitive disorder, non-pharmacological interventions are often preferred as first-line treatment over pharmacological interventions, which often have modest efficacy, notable side effects and significant risks. Multisensory stimulation (MSS) interventions have become increasingly popular in the treatment of BPSD, particularly with disease progression. The objective of this review paper is to provide a brief overview of the types of MSS interventions currently used in the treatment of major neurocognitive disorders. METHODS: Searches for papers published in this area were conducted using PubMed and the Web of Science Core Collection. The searches were done for the period covering the past 20 years, and key phrases used were "multisensory stimulation for treatment of BPSD," "multisensory stimulation for treatment of major cognitive disorders," "multisensory stimulation for treatment of dementia" and "multisensory stimulation for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders." RESULTS: Multisensory environments, multisensory tools and multisensory group therapies are discussed. There is growing support for the use of MSS interventions to improve mood, behaviour and quality of life in seniors with dementia and BPSD. However, currently the utilization of these interventions is highly variable and strong evidence for their use is limited. CONCLUSION: MSS interventions in the form of multisensory environments, tools and group therapies present tremendous potential as first-line treatments or as adjuncts to pharmacological interventions in the treatment of major neurocognitive disorders. However, the body of quality evidence that currently exists is limited. A lack of evidence does not necessarily mean a lack of efficacy, and there is a pressing need for studies with improved power and study design to determine the effectiveness of specific MSS interventions and to ascertain for whom they may be most beneficial. ARTICLE HISTORY

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“…3 BPSD may present as agitation, anxiety, irritability, apathy, and sleep or appetite changes. 4,5 The symptoms are associated with poor outcomes, including long-term hospitalizations, patient and caregiver distress, and increased health care costs. 3,6 The use of psychotropics to diminish BPSD in the dementia population has been common practice despite Food and Drug Administration warnings of increased risk of extrapyramidal side effects, falls, cerebrovascular events, arrhythmias, and even death.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing student-pharmacists' professional development through community outreach with dementia population

Mosley¹,

Kroustos²,

Sobota³

et al. 2020

Mental Health Clinician

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Introduction Misinterpreted or minimized sensations related to progressive neuronal loss are predictive of the prominent behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) observed in dementia. Guidelines recommend nonpharmacologic interventions via sensory engagement be included in the standard of patient care. To facilitate implementation, collaboration with health care students equipped with nonpharmacologic strategies to manage BPSD should be encouraged. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of outreach participation on student-pharmacists' comfort levels and perceived communication ability when interacting with patients with dementia. Methods During the sensory stimulation outreach, pharmacy students were paired with a patient with dementia to encourage fidget blanket use through patient-specific directions and demonstration. A single-group, pretest-posttest design was utilized to assess changes in students' comfort level and perceived communication ability prior to and immediately following outreach participation. Results Twenty-six students attended between 1 and 5 outreaches. Students reported a statistically significant increase in comfort level while interacting with patients with dementia after attending their first (n = 26, Z = 2.754, P = .006), second (n = 16, Z = 2.124, P = .034), and third outreach (n = 12, Z = 2.449, P = .014). Students' weighted composite communication scores showed a statistically significant increase after their first (n = 26, Z = 3.309, P = .001) and third outreach experiences (n = 12, Z = 2.375, P = .018). Discussion Participation in this sensory stimulation outreach improved students' comfort level and ability to communicate while interacting with patients with dementia. Greater exposure to the population through continued outreach participation was associated with a further increase in comfort level and perceived communication ability.

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Fidget Blankets: A Sensory Stimulation Outreach Program

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Remembering Your Roots: The Role of Horticulture Therapy in People Living with Dementia

Remembering Your Roots: The Role of Horticulture Therapy in People Living with Dementia

Use of multisensory stimulation interventions in the treatment of major neurocognitive disorders

Enhancing student-pharmacists' professional development through community outreach with dementia population

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